Nigerian syndicate tricks Pinoys to smuggle drugs

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III has revealed that a Nigerian drug syndicate convinces Filipinos to smuggle drugs in exchange for a round-trip ticket, pocket money, and help in renewing their visas.

“That’s why it’s very inviting,” he said.

“They can renew their visa and it’s given to them for free. And they even have money on the side.”

Sotto urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to draw up a system to help overseas Filipino workers renew visas to dissuade them from working as drug smugglers.

During a hearing of the Senate foreign relations committee, the DFA said Filipinos have been arrested, charged and convicted in China after having been victimized by international drug syndicates.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Jose Eduardo Malaya told the Senate foreign relations committee at least two of the Filipinos arrested for drug smuggling are now on death row in China.

Sotto, former Dangerous Drugs Board chairman, said more than 200 OFWs detained last year in China were embroiled in drug-related cases.